Metal-trimming method



s sheets-sheet i INVENTOR l Il J. c. cRoMwELL METAL TRIMMING METHOD Filed June 16, 1928 Jan;Il 6, 1931.

Jah. 6, 1931; Y J. c. cRoMwELL 1,787,513

METAL TRIMMXNG'METHOD Filedr June 16, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 mvem'on Gama@ Jan. 6, 1931. J, Q CRQMWELL K 1,787,513

- METAL TRIMMING METHOD Filed June 16, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l Q mmm I Patented Jan. 6, `1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oI-'FicE JOHN C. CROMWELL, OF ALLIANCE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T THE STEEL SANITARY COI- IPANY, 0F ALLIANCE, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO METAL-'rminimum''e Mnrnon l Application led .Tune 16,

The present linvention deals more' particularly with =the art of sheet metal ware Imaking and sheet metal working, and especially refers to an improved method and aplparatus for trimming edges of sheet metal s apes or sections preparatory to the welding thereof. I have found that extremely desirable results may be eected by the utilization of a high speed saw so mounted as to be effective for cutting in a substantially horizontal plane, and supporting the material in such manner as to provide for relative movementbetween the saw and the support in addition to the movement of the-saw itself. V

In the accompanying drawings there are shown for purposes of illustration only, certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, it being understood that the drawings do not define the limits of my invention either with respect to the material treated or with respect to the construction ofthe. apparatus utilized.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevational view of one form of apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the construction illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line III-III of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view on the line IV--IV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view slmilar to Figure 3 illus- I trating a slightly different embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 6 is a detail sectional v1ew on the line VI-VI of Figure 5.

. Figure 7 is a view in elevation of a completed tub, delineating the length of junction of the band saw type. VWhere a circular saw 1928. Serial No. 286,029.

metal placed on it. It also preferably has its upper surface shaped as desired to receive and support previously formed sections, two of which are illustrated in position thereon. In practice, the sections are shaped in any desired manner, and then placed in position on the support in such manner that the support is effective adjacent the proposed plane kin which it is desired to effect trimming of the edges, thereby preventing any distortion of the edges during trimming. In the case of cup shaped sections 5, supplemental yfiller blocks or anvils 6 may be dropped into position to further support the same during trimmlng.

For trimming purposes I preferably provide a high speed saw so mounted as to keep the cuttin edge thereof effective in a substantially orizontal plane ,and in substantially the plane of the upper surface of the holder 4. In Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings I have illustrated a high speed saw 7 of the circular type, While in Figure 5 of the drawings there is shown a high speed saw 8 is utilized, it will preferably be of concave contour on its lower surface, as clearly indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings, thereby to provide a downwardly projecting cutting edge directed into and against the metal to be trimmed. l

The saw may be mounted directly on the armature shaft of a suitable driving motor 9, supported for adjustment on a pedestal 10, as illustrated in detail in Figure 4.of the drawings, in which the motor frame andpedestal are shown as provided with dove-tail shaped inter-engaging portions 11, with which cooperates a threaded shaft'12, providing fr vertical adjustment of the motor and saw.

In the form of Figures 5 and 6 of m inventon, there is illustrated a high spee saw 8 of the band saw type, traveling around disks 13 and 14, mounted at spaced points in a suitable U-shaped frame 15. Carried by the frame for driving one of the disks isa motor 16, preferably directly connected to the disk with which it cooperates. The entire frame l5 in turn cooperates with a pedestal 10, loo

' similar to the pedestal 10, and mounted for vertical movement thereon throu h the connections illustrated in Figure 6 o the drawings.

With the construction shown, it will be apparent that there is provided a saw effective in a substantially horizontal plane and capable of being `vertically adjusted to control l the exact plane of cutting. The saws in both cases cooperate with supporting means effective for maintaining the edges of a pre-shaped section against the possibility of distortion, and for permitting bodily relative movement between the saw and the supporting means.` Due to this construction, the saw in either case operates in effect as a planer, but has a materlally greater capacity than a planer, especially when used for trimming the edges of relatively thin sheet metal sections. In actual practice it has been 'found that eX- tremely satisfactory trimming results may be obtained by effecting such a relative movement between the metal and the saw as to produce a trimming of from six to fifteen feet a minute. In this manner, a' complete section of irregular contour having upstanding edges to be trimmed in a common plane may be completely and accurately trimmed at a single movement of the platen.

With asaw of the circular type, the stroke of the platen in one direction will be effective for producing a trimming operation of a supported article atone side of the saw, while the return movement may be utilized for etfecting a similar operation on another article at the opposite side of the saw, both strokes of the platen thus becoming working strokes contrary to the usual operation in the planer. With a band saw, I have found it desirable to provide one idle stroke on the platen due to the ditliculties of accurately supporting a -band saw having cutting teeth on both edges thereof. After the edges of the sections'have been trimmed in the manner referred to, adjacent edges of different sections may be brol'i-ght to` i gether in such manner that they accuratelyabut to facilitate welding thereof. and then welded in accordance with any of the wellknown methods.

The present invention thus hasvthe advantages of replacing the relatively slowplaning formity between successive trimmed sections, facilitating the after operations of assem- .bling and welding.

V It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes vin the construction and operation herein disclosed may be made with- I claim: A

l.' In the method of weldin ,the steps comprising shaping a section of s eet metal, supporting the shaped sheet against displacement, sawing the edges thereof while so supported, and then su jecting the section to a welding operation.

2. V'In the 'method of metal trimming, the steps comprising shaping a section of sheet metal, supporting the shaped section, and trimming the edges thereof by sawing while so supported.

3. In the method of trimming, the steps comprising placing the article to be trimmed on 'a support, bringing the Aarticle while so supported and a saw into cooperative relationship` d r-iving the saw, and producing relative movement between the san' and the support while the saw is so driven.

4. In the method of welding, the steps comprising shaping a section of sheet metal to provide upstanding edges, supporting the shaped section, eiiecting bodily movement of the shaped section while so supported. and trimming all of-said edges `during such movement by subjecting them to a saw-ing operation.

4In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN C CROMWELL.

' out departing either from the spirit of my invention or the scope of my broader claims.

Cil

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